The Prince After The English Civil War - 1035 Words

Changes in political views are usually done under the pretense of social and political mayhem. Niccolo Macchiavelli wrote his book The Prince after having assisted in the creation of a republic in Florence at a time when several Italian states were fighting for control. Philosopher Thomas Hobbes wrote his work The Leviathan under the English Civil War when it was clear that the king was not able to keep his people safe. These backdrops of political unrest helped mold both philosophers attitudes toward both the government and the people living under it. Machiavelli saw the stability of the state with utmost importance, using any technique available such as deception to keep it together. Hobbes on the other hand saw government as a solution to the brutish and dangerous state of nature that all men originally find themselves in, creating a system for people to opt in as long as they do not attempt to undermine the sovereign. Niccolo Machiavelli is seen as a cut-throat political theorist who is often cited when talking about the immorality of politics. While this argument may be a little heavy-handed, his views on treachery and deceit certainly play a role in how critics have viewed him over the last 500 years. A repeated theme in his book is his willingness to break promises that go against your interest. Machiavelli believes wholeheartedly that a ruler [is never] short of legitimate reasons to justify breaking his word. (Ch. 18 p. 3) For example, Machiavelli oftenShow MoreRelatedOliver Cromwell a Hero or a Villain1393 Words   |  6 PagesParliament, Oliver Cromwell was a strong critic of King Charles the 2nd and in 1642, when King Charles the 2nd started the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell started to raise troops and joined the Parliamentary forces, fighting against King Charles the 2nd. It is in the English Civil War where Oliver Cromwell gains his renown and fame. In the beginning of the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell became a cavalry commander. Even though he had no military experience, he had a good knowledge of horsesRead MoreWhy Did Charles Lose the Civil War?1039 Words   |  5 PagesWhy did King Charles lose the civil war? In April 1642, the Civil war started in England. The civil war ended up by King Charles losing the war. And in my essay I am going to talk about many reasons why Charles lost the civil war. In 1642 most people thought that King Charles would win the civil war, as he had won the battle of Edge hill, but unfortunately King Charles did not take advantage of this opportunity and marched to London. King Charles didn’t know what to do when it came to bigRead MorePolitical Systems Thematic Essay1536 Words   |  7 Pageswhen laws limit the power of the monarch so they cannot rule absolutely. These two political systems affected not only their own country, but the whole of Europe as well. Mainly under the influences of the two leaders Louis XIV, Charles II, James II, Prince William, and Queen Mary. One of the most known rulers that ruled with absolute power in France was Louis XIV. Louis ruled for many years and was considered one of the most powerful rulers in French history. Louis often said, â€Å"L’à ©tat, c’estRead MoreParallels Between The Syrian Civil War And Romeo And Juliet1197 Words   |  5 PagesNandhini Ekambaram Ms. Merino-Ott English honors 9 26 February 2017 Parallels between the Syrian Civil War and Romeo and Juliet When people say history repeats itself, they are not lying. A modern conflict in today’s world can relate to the events that happened in a play written in the 1500’s. The play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, can relate to the ongoing Syrian Civil War. In both circumstances, people not anticipating the consequences of their actions made decisionsRead MoreReformation in Continental Europe and England and Its Consequences1611 Words   |  7 PagesFollowing this, the Great Western Schism also contributed to the loss of papal authority as it split Christian Europe into hostile camps, because three different men were claiming to be the true Pope, each having some support from different kings and princes of Europe. Finally, the corruption of the Renaissance papacy, such as that of Alexander VI (who did not keep the celibacy vow) resulted in loss of papal credibility. As the Holy See was not as powerful anymore, it was suffering from attacks on theRead More Reformation in continental Europe and England and its consequences1616 Words   |  7 PagesFollowing this, the Great Western Schism also contributed to the loss of papal authority as it split Christian Europe into hostile camps, because three different men were claiming to be the true Pope, each having some support from different kings and princes of Europe. Finally, the corruption of the Renaissance papacy, such as that of Alexander VI (who did not keep the celibacy vow) resulted in loss of papal credibility. As the Holy See was not as powerful anymore, it was suffering from attacks on theRead MoreEssay Origins of the English Civil War1040 Words   |  5 PagesThe English Civil War of 1642-1651 can be considered as a feud between the King and the English Parliament. Long before the onset of the civil war, Parliament and king Charles I had distrusted each other. As a result, Parliament often refused to finance the king’s wars. Unable to gain enough support from Parliament, Charles I challenged local control of nobles and landowners, who composed of the majority of Parliament, by â€Å"levying new tariffs and duties, attempting to collect discontinuedRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1490 Words   |  6 Pagesare met with carelessness according to their own. Shakespeare’s affair that abrupt accomplishments can generally accept adverse after-effects is illustrated through Friar Lawrence’s analysis of Romeo and Juliet’s accord and Lord Capulet’s hasty accommodation of Juliet’s alliance to Paris. Shakespeare’s affair that abrupt accomplishments can generally accept adverse after-effects is illustrated through Friar Lawrence’s analysis of Romeo and Juliet’s accord and Lord Capulet’s hasty accommodation ofRead More Essay on Rewriting History in Henry IV1066 Words   |  5 PagesFirst Part of Henry the Fourth follows history fairly closely, and Shakespeare draws this history primarily from Raphael Holinsheds Chronicle of England, Scotland, and Ireland and from Samuel Daniels verse epic The Civil Wars (Abrams 823).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The play opens shortly after Henry Bolingbroke has usurped the throne from Richard II, becoming the fourth King Henry, and changing the royal lineage from the House of Plantagenet to the House of Lancaster. In the opening sequence, Henry IV isRead MoreNiccolo Machiavelli was One of the Leading Writers During the Renaissance Period1235 Words   |  5 Pagesand humanist, based in Florence and is considered to be the patron of contemporary political science, including political moral code. His most famous work was â€Å"The Prince† which was printed in 1532, five years after his death. The main subject of this book is the philosophy of administration (carried out by the ruling class ‘’princes’’) and how, one should make use of any means including immoral, to retain complete power. The book was criticized substantially since it seemed that the author was encouraging